The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-04-09
" ALL RIGHT"

What Bill, Brave Ship-Boy, Brought
Away from the Wreck of the Mermaid
"Zp," the Captains Pet.
'We'll be driven ashore in less than
five minutes, and then may God have
mercy upon us, for the rocks will have
noner'
So muttered through his clinched
teeth Gas he strained his eyes through
the binding spray to catch the dim
loom of the cliffs right ahead) the cap
tain of the trading brig Mermaid, home
ward bound to London from the Brazil
ian port of Pernambuco.
1t was indeed all over with the poor
old brig. Both her masts were gone,
her wheel and steering-gear had been
carried away, and tremendous sea
was sweeping her straight toward the
widest and rocliiest part of the south
west coast of England. For himself
Captain Barrett would have cared lit
tie, accustomed as he was to face every
kind of danger without finching; but
his wife and her little girl were on
board along with him; and what was to
become of them?
Close by the captains side, clinging
as ghtly as his benumbed and cramped
fingers would let him to the Jagged
stump of the mainmast (behind which
Mrs. Barrett and her child had been
placed for shelter), stood Bill, the cab
in-boy-a bright-eyed, curly-haired lit
flo fnIlnw borolv +nO 1yao,,, oil
kind-hearted captain had found him
wandering disconsolately about the
East India Docks, ragged and hungry;
and remembering the time when he
himself had been Just such poor and
friendless boy, had taken the forlorn
lad aboard the Mermaid, where he had
remained ever since.
Bill was much better off than most
Ship-boys, for instead of being starved
and beaten, as they usually were in
those rough days, he was made regu-
lar pet both by the captain and the
crew. But he was not their only fa-
vorite, for Captain Barrett had brought
back from Brazil queer little South
American raccoon, not much bigger
than a rat, and looking very like one,
with its long, sharp snout and sleek
brown coat. All through the homeward
voyage, Zip, as the coon was called,
was the chosen playmate of the sailors,
who were never tired of running about
the forecastle with him, or feeding him
on pieces of softened biscuit. But now,
when every man on board expected to
be struggling for his life within a few
minutes, poor Zip seemed likely to be
left to take care of himself, and to have
but poor chance Of escape.
Suddenly Bill was seen to leave his
place, and to pick his way like a rope
dancer across the rocking, reeling deck,
over which the furious sea broke every
moment in roaring waterfalls of foam.
One would hardly have thoucht the lit
tie cabin-boy likely 10 possess any
treasure for which he would care to
risk his life; but it was plain enough
that he did, for when he got back to
his place CATER venturing down to the
lower deck) he hid something buttoned
up lHsluC HIS JdChcl, VI WHICH he Secln-
ed t, be very careful indeed.
He was barely in time, for scarcely
had he caught hold of the broken mast
once more when the doomed vessel was
suddenly whirled upward on the crest
of an enormous wave, as if she were be-
ing flung up into the very sky. Then
she flew forward with amazing swift
ness, and tremendous crash was
heard as her bow was driven hard and
fast between two low Jagged rocks.
The shock threw all on board off
their feet, and they clung in despera-
ton to whatever they could seize, as
the waves poured over the stern like Il
cataract. For moment it seemed as
if the whole vessel must 90 to pieces
at once; but no-she held firm, and
there was still a chance for life.
But what was to be done next? They
were indeed only a very little way from
the land; but how were they to reach
it? The only plan was for some one to
swim ashore with rope; and this, in
the teeth of the great seas that came
laundering. in every moment, would
be as deadly venture as to charge
through shower of cannon-balls.
But help was at hand. The drifting